"She has not only left behind physical reminders of her contribution to Cambridge, her legacy is the countless people throughout the world who have been inspired and influenced by her knowledge, insight and overriding warmth," she said.

After studying at Oxford, Dame Rosemary taught chemistry at both Royal Holloway College and Sheffield University.

She joined the Admiralty Signals Department on the outbreak of the Second World War and at the end of the conflict she joined Cambridge as a demonstrator in chemistry at Girton College.

Flower honour

When women at Cambridge University achieved full degree status in 1948, she began to take an active part in the meetings of the Third Foundation for Women.

She went on to found New Hall and the college became a centre for women at a time when Cambridge had a low proportion of women undergraduates.

Dame Rosemary went on to became president of the college and remained in the post until retiring in 1981.

Away from the university, she spent 30 years as a justice of the peace and became the first woman to be a deputy lieutenant of the county.

At the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year a new rose was named in her honour.